Hockey World Cup: Harmanpreet Singh is India’s trump card, says Jugraj

Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh has called captain Harmanpreet Singh the team's 'trump card' for the ongoing FIH Hockey World Cup. Hindustan Times reports Jugraj said he sees his own aggressive style in the 30-year-old, a fellow product of the Surjit Hockey Academy. 'His style is exactly like mine. His playing style and aggression remind me of myself. I see my reflection in him,' Jugraj told PTI.

Jugraj, whose career was cut short by a 2003 car accident, rates Harmanpreet among the world's top three drag-flickers. He cautioned, however, that opponents will thoroughly video-analyse the captain's penalty-corner routines and that innovation will be needed. Sportstar, separately, notes the question of whether India is over-reliant on Harmanpreet's dragflicks. Of his 254 career goals, 217 have come from penalty corners. India's poor open-play conversion in the Pro League, where it managed just 10 field goals against top-seven teams at 0.62 per game, has drawn scrutiny on the forwards.

Jugraj said he has told Harmanpreet that only a World Cup medal is missing from India's collection. 'This team is well prepared and the bonding is visible. The team is fully capable of ending the 50-year wait.' India next plays England on Monday.